Disclaimer: I do not own "Ouran High School Host Club" or any of the characters in this wonderful manga/anime in any way.

Shelter in the Storm

Previously in chapter thirty four: They stepped up to the table and Kyoya leaned in to give Haruhi a kiss on the cheek. At the same time, he whispered, "I still love you Haruhi. I always will." With that, he bid Takeshi good night, and returned to his own table.

Chapter Thirty Five

Haruhi sat back down with Takeshi stunned that Kyoya would be so bold. She knew that he would frequently surprise her, but she never expected him to be that brash. Takeshi could see on her face that she was upset, but he saw nothing that he thought would upset her, so he figured that something was said. His Kouhai would have some explaining to do when they started the club back after the summer break, but he would not take away from his date with Haruhi to confront him. This was their time. He would protect it. Haruhi finished her desert before Takeshi.

After finishing her desert, Takeshi asked her to dance as well. She was not as graceful dancing as she would like to be, but she tried with Kyoya. When she danced with Takeshi, however, he stood her on the top of his feet or would lift her completely off the ground. She, for the first time in her life, truly felt like a princess in Takeshi's arms. After the dance, they returned to their seat for coffee, but Takeshi was fumbling with something in his pocket. Moments passed, until he finally pulled out the ring out of its box. "Haruhi, I have something to ask, but I'm not real sure how you will take it. In honesty, it's not the exact question that I want to ask, and that's why I am having such a hard time figuring it out. But the question that I am going to ask relates directly to the question that I don't think that I should ask at this time."

"Takeshi, you're rambling? That's not like you. Are you ok?"

"Uhn, just confused. Haruhi, would you accept a ring, for your right hand, as a promise ring?"

"A promise ring? What promise?" Not being the typical girly-girl, Haruhi had not heard of promise rings.

"It is a ring that accompanies a promise of an engagement ring. It doesn't mean that you would accept the engagement ring; it's just to say that I am promising you that I will ask you when the time is right. Right now, you're still in high school, and under-aged. I know that you want to be a lawyer, which means a lot more school in your future. So, you might not want to be tied down while you're in school."

"Takeshi?"

"Hai?"

"The ring?"

"Oh yeah." He brought the ring out and presented it to her. "Will you accept it?"

"On one condition."

"And that is?"

"You don't get upset if I don't wear it to school or club. It wouldn't look good on a boy."

"Ok, I can accept that condition."

He laughed as he put it on her right hand. "It's amazing. It matches the jewelry that you bought me. When did you get it?" It fit perfectly. She continued to admire it.

"This morning when we got the rest of the matching set. I wanted to surprise you with it. You didn't look like you would have accepted if I had bought it just as a ring with no significance. You seem to think that I spent too much money today. But Haruhi, if it's for you, I would spend my last penny." I wish it were an engagement ring, but for now this will do. Why am I in such a hurry?

Kyoya walked by on his way out and witnessed Haruhi admiring her new ring. What!?! No way! Surely she hasn't accepted his proposal. No wait, it looks like it goes with the other jewels that she was wearing. But then again, Haruhi can't afford something like that. That was platinum, sapphires, and diamonds. So either Mori-senpai bought it for her, or she borrowed it from somewhere. But if she borrowed it, then she would have worn the ring from the start, right? So does that mean he bought it for her? "That's a striking ring, Haruhi. Is it new?"

"Yes, Takeshi bought it for me."

"I see. Mori-senpai, I have to say that you really have an eye for the stunningly beautiful… the jewelry is exceptional as well." He smiled one of his rare, true smiles at Haruhi, who blushed. "So, tell me, senpai, how come Haruhi wasn't wearing the ring earlier?" He was fishing for the truth, not sure if he really wanted it or not.

"I had a specific reason for giving her a ring. And although it is part of a set, I wanted to ask her if she would accept my reason's for wanting her to have the ring. That is to say that the ring is part of the set of jewelry, not part of a set of rings." If you really want to know Kyoya, just ask me. I have no fear of telling you that I want her to be my wife, when she's ready.

"Really? It looks as if you would expect to find a simple platinum band next to it, although on a different hand. I would have expected it to be part of a set of rings." So then it's not a part of a wedding set? What are your intentions, senpai? If you lead her on or hurt her, I don't care how strong the Morinodzuka family, or the Haninodzuka family is, I will make you regret it. She may not have chosen me, but she is still my friend and I will still protect her.

"I agree, it would look good like that, but that is not the case. This isn't a part of that type of set." Not that I wouldn't love to put that type of set on her left hand. But the time isn't right. She still has almost two full years of High School and then years and years of college. Besides that, what business is it of yours if I give her an engagement ring? Now I know why I feel so anxious when I think about asking Haruhi to marry me. It's because of him.

"Is that so? Well it certainly is exquisite. But then again, any ring that sits on her hand would seem so as well, correct?" Kyoya took Haruhi's hand and kissed the back of it gently. But then again, she could make even plain tin look worth a billion yen.

"No truer words have ever been spoken." Not only can she make any jewelry look good, but she makes any man she wants fall in love with her as well. How did I get so lucky? I'm sorry Kyoya. I know you care about her, but I can't let her go.

"Well, I'll bid you a good night now. I'll see you both in a few weeks once club starts up again after summer, correct?" Maybe not seeing her for the time being will help me get over her, but I doubt it.

"Of course, senpai." Haruhi answered got the both her and her boyfriend. As far as she was concerned, she still had a debt to pay off. But if the truth be told, Kyoya wiped the debt completely when she fell into the coma. He did it, not because he was concerned that she wouldn't come out of the coma, or wouldn't be able to fulfill the repayment, or even because he felt sorry for her. He closed out the debt because, after almost losing her, he reevaluated things in his life. The debt that was still left was mostly because of increases due to the twins' actions, made out of emotion, or even as a means to persuade her into something. None of which were valid reasons for increasing her debt, and he knew it. Kyoya, however, had not told her that she doesn't have the debt holding her at the club. He had intended to confess to her again, this time when she was not in a coma or asleep, and tell her after she had accepted his confession. That was not to be, now that she was with their senpai. So he had not found a good time to tell her that her debt was cleared. He probably wouldn't tell her now anyways, since it really didn't matter. She used the club time to spend time with her boyfriend.